Chapter 74

~Back at Nick's house~

"Someone! Help me...please," Lyndsay yelled tossing around in bed kicking the blanket off of her and knocking over the lamp next to Nick's bed.

CRASH!!!!

Nick bolted up from the couch in the den, his mind a little fuzzy from sleep. Realizing that Lyndsay was in his room, he sped up the stairs only to run straight into AJ who was running towards Nick's room.

"Nick?" AJ said glancing towards Nick's door and Nick. His eyes kept going back and forth between the two spots becoming even more confused.

Ignoring AJ's behavior, Nick bolted towards his room and threw open the door as Brian, AJ, Howie, Kat,and Joy gathered behind him.

"Lyndsay!" Nick said stepping towards the bed and trying to duck her flying hands and feet. It was evident she was still wrapped up in dreaming. Seizing an open opportunity, Nick wrapped his fingers around her hands holding her wrists in his one hand as he attempted to gather her legs with his other air. With success, he was able to maneuver Lyndsay on to his lap and calm her down a bit, "Lyndsay, shhh...Lyndsay, wake up honey."

"Lyndsay," Nick said running his hands through her hair as tears continued to stream down her red, flushed face even though she was still asleep. Nick shook her gently trying not to frighten her. "Lyndsay, wake up honey, please. It is only a dream. Wake up," Nick repeated over and over.

Slowly she began to open her eyes letting them adjust to the light around her. She was a little disoriented and knew she was in someone's arms. Feeling fear take over her body, she began to struggle, "let go of me!!! Let go of me! River...I asked you to let go of me!!!"

"Someone help me," Nick said pleadingly to AJ or Howie.

Howie ran over grabbing Lyndsay's hands from plummeting themselves over Nick's chest.

"Lyndsay, look at me," Nick said.

Slowly her bloodshot eyes turned to look at him blankly.

"I'm not River. It is Nick," Nick said while rubbing his hand over her face.

"Nick," she repeated emotionlessly.

"Nick...not River," he repeated again.

"Nick," Lyndsay repeated again, "Oh my god, Nick!"

She buried her head against his chest sobbing pitifully as Nick indicated for Howie to let go of her.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she said her voiced muffled as she started on a whole new round of sobs.

~Back at the Hospital~

Suz laid in bed staring blankly at the TV screen. She had Friends on but it wasn't making her laugh at all. This was one time where Phoebe's stupid antics or Joey's brainless and idiotic statements couldn't make her laugh.

"Suz," Kevin said as his rough thumb coursed over her smooth palm, "look at me."

She turned her head searching his face.

"I love you"

Fat teardrops of happiness, sadness, and fear started to fall from her eyes. He watched as one, two, then three teardrops laid on her cheek and slid down. Her voice choked with emotion, she answered him, "I love you too."

Getting up from the chair, he carefully slid her over in the bed getting in next to her and pulling her close very carefully. The doctor had warned them of the dangers of Suz moving around too much.

He smoothed down her hair trying to reassure her with his touch.

"Kevin? What if something happens," Suz asked.

"Don't think that way. You have to have faith," he said looking into her hazel eyes.

"But what if something does?" Suz insisted.

Sighing in defeat, he answered her, "We'll get through whatever happens, do you hear me?"

Suz nodded yes.

"Uh Kevin?"

"Yes?"

"I want to get married"

"Honey, we are going to eventually get married. Remember, I asked you," he said laughing.

"No, I mean right now...right here."

"Here? Now?" Kevin looked at her in disbelief, "Are you sure?"

Chapter 75

"Yes, I'm sure," Suz said squeezing his hand.

He kissed her softly on the lips, "I'll be right back."

Kevin jumped out of bed carefully and trotted out of the room winking at her before he disappeared.

~Nick's House~

"Lyndsay, don't be sorry," Nick said in a soothing voice.

She looked over at everyone staring at her, "You must all think I'm nuts."

"No, not quite," AJ said grinning.

"I had a nightmare," Lyndsay offered.

"Most have been a huge Nick running after you in just his boxers," Howie joked.

He was happy to see Lyndsay laugh at his lame attempt of a joke.

"See, we got you laughing," Joy said brightly.

"At my expense," Nick said with a straight face but broke down into laughter.

After everyone had a hearty laugh, the mood in the room became serious.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kat asked.

"That's ok," Nick started to say but was interrupted by Lyndsay, "Yes, actually I would. Can we go into the living room?"

Nick looked at her startled and whispered, "Are you sure?"

"Nick, I'm ready as I ever will be. If I don't do it now, I won't ever. I can't keep this in forever. Do you know how good it felt to talk to you and Joaquin? Exhiliarating!!" Lyndsay said.

Nick and Lyndsay walked into the living room holding hands. They got comfortable on the recliner with Lyndsay sitting on his laps...his arms at a reach in case she needed them.

Pausing, she started her story.

~Hospital~

Kevin sprinted back into the room pausing at Suz's bed. He thought she was asleep but smiled when she opened her eyes. "You ready?" he asked.

"Now? That fast?" Suz said chuckling.

Kevin went to the door motioning for someone, "Suz, this is the hospital priest. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"

"Father Jerald, Kevin," the priest said smiling.

"Fr. Jerald?" Kevin repeated stumbling over his words.

"Pleased to meet you, Fr. Jerald," Suz said.

"It is an honorable pleasure to meet you, Suz, but I wish it was under better circumstances," Fr. Jerald replied.

"I know," Suz said sighing. Fr. Jerald gently squeezed her hand.

"Kevin?" the priest said waving hand in front of his face.

"Huh?" he said snapping out of his daze.

"Are you ready to proceed?" Fr. Jerald asked.

Both replied yes and soon, the ceremony was under way....

"Kevin, you may kiss your wife," he concluded.

With a sigh of contentment, for the timebeing, Kevin brushed his lips against Suz's. He felt hers open in response allowing his tongue to explore her mouth. Kevin almost moaned loudly when he realized the priest was still in the room.

"I'm sorry, Fr Jer.." Kevin said looking over but no one was there.

With puzzled look, Suz and Kevin looked at each other.

"Mr. Richardson?" a young nurse said stepping into the room.

"Yes?" Kevin replied.

"This was left for you at the nurse's station by what it looked to be a priest," the nurse said handing an envelope over.

After the nurse had left the room, Kevin torn it open revealing his and Suz's marraige license that had been signed by both of them and one Father Jerald.

"What the heck?" Kevin said, "I'll be right back."

Chapter 76

Kevin walked to the nurses' station questioning all the nurses about the mysterious priest.

No one had ever seen him before. They had just assumed Kevin had called for him.

An hour later, Kevin returned to Suz's room.

"That is weird," Kevin said stepping into Suz's room.

"What is weird?" Suz said looking over at her husband. She smiled as she realized he was now really her husband.

"The nurses' don't know anything about the priest. He told me that he was the hospital priest," Kevin said.

Suz looked up in fear, "Then who was he? Is our marriage even legal?"

"Don't worry," Kevin said smiling at her, "I checked that out. It has been registered both with the church and legally with the city."

Suz sighed with relief.

"Where did he come from?" Kevin wondered out loud.

"I don't know," Suz muttered lost in her thoughts.

"Mr. Richardson?" the same nurse said who brought in the note before, "There is a phone call for you at the desk."

"A phone call?" Kevin said puzzledly as he walked out of the room.

"Hello? Kevin?" a voice said.

"Yes?" Kevin said cautiously.

"This is Fr. Daniel, from St Dominic's Parish," the voice said.

"Hello, Fr. Daniel," Kevin said even more puzzled.

"I guess you are wondering why I am calling you?" Fr. Daniel said.

"Yes I am"

"Well, Fr. Jerald instructed me to call you"

"Instructed you?"

"Yes, before he died, he last wish was for me to call you"

"Before he died?" Kevin said choking on his words.

"Yes, Fr. Jerald was very sick, with cancer," Fr. Daniel volunteered, "He had stopped performing wedding ceremonies years ago when his parents told him they were divorcing. He hadn't of done one in 20 years until he slipped out tonight to see you and Suz."

Kevin was flabbergasted. Sick? With cancer? Like my father...Kevin thought.

"Why?" Kevin asked.

"I don't know Kevin, I really don't know why after all these years," the priest continued, "There is one more thing he told me to tell you."

"What is that?"

"He said that he'd watch over your angel everyday."

"My angel?" Kevin said questioningly.

"That is all he said, Kevin, no more," Fr. Daniel offered.

"Thank you, Fr. Daniel," Kevin said saying goodbye to the priest and heading towards Suz's room.

"Who was it?" Suz asked Kevin.

"It was a Fr. Daniel. He was calling from St Dominic's Parish over near our house. He wanted to let me know that Fr. Jerald had just passed away," Kevin said.

"Passed away?" Suz said startled.

"Yes, from cancer," Kevin whispered dropping into the chair next to her bed.

"Cancer?" Suz repeated frightened at the look on Kevin's face, "Kevin, come here." She patted the bed beside her.

Reluctantly, Kevin laid next to her resting his head against hers, "Fr. Daniel also told me something else. Fr. Jerald said that he would watch over my angel."

"Your angel?" Suz said wondering as a feeling of fear gripped her heart.

Chapter 77

~With Lyndsay&Nick~

"Oh my," Joy said holding her fist up to her mouth. She was struggling not to cry at the pain that she could only half imagine Lyndsay went through.

"So you see, it is all my fault. I should have helped him," Lyndsay whispered yet once again.

Nick's hold tightened around her. Halfway through Lyndsay's story, he had wrapped his arms around her knowing she needed the comfort of someone.

"Lyndsay," AJ said kneeling in front of her and taking her hands, "It isn't your fault."

"Yes it is, AJ, how can you say it isn't?" She said sobbing.

"Because I onced believed the same thing," he responded as a tear slid down his cheek.

"Wha?"

Everyone looked at AJ sharply.

He glanced around him noting the curious and concerned looks on everyone's faces.

"I had a cousin," he started, "who died of a drug overdose last year."

Nick and Howie gasped. AJ had never told them anything.

"I tried," AJ continued, "I tried so hard to help Elana...so damn hard. In the end, it wasn't enough. For weeks, I beat myself up over it thinking I could have...should have tried harder. But it didn't matter if she didn't want the help."

By this time, tears were streaming down both Lyndsay's and AJ's faces.

"I finally realized that I did what I could and nothing was going to change that," AJ finished.

Lyndsay leaned forward grabbing onto AJ hurriedly and squeezing him with a death grip as violent wails and sobs erupted from her body. AJ looked up over Lyndsay at Nick and saw Nick crying also.

Soon, the whole gang was in a big group hug.

~Hospital~

Kevin awoke as the sun started to shift allowing light to shine through blinds. He looked to his side seeing Suz sleeping peacefully and also, it seemed, without much pain. It pained him to have her go through such trying times since she has been through so much in the last year. He carefully shifted his weight as he reached his arm over to rest his hand on her stomach. He rubbed softly knowing not to hurt her. His eyes rested on the motion of his hand. After a few minutes, he become aware of someone watching him. Looking up, he smiled as he saw Suz awake and smiling back at him.

"Hi honey," Suz said whispering.

"Hi my love," Kevin said reaching up to kiss her softly. He ran his tongue teasingly across her lips as her mouth opened slightly as an invitation. Laughing, he could feel her hot breath against his cheek.

"Are you waiting for something?" Kevin teased.

"Kiss me, damnit," Suz said pulling his face down to meet hers. With a woosh, her lips clamped against his sucking fiercely on his tongue. Even now, he could arouse her to another height. Suz felt the bulge in Kevin's pants against her side.

"I see that someone's extremely happy," she said rubbing her palm roughly against his hard arousal.

"Suz," Kevin warned.

"Let me help you," Suz said quickly unbuttoning his jeans and freeing his throbbing penis.

"Not here," Kevin said glancing around the hospital room.

"No one is going to see us," Suz said assuring him as she threw a blanket over the both of them.

With a jerk, she began to pump him with her hand alternating between fast and slow. She'd reach down and cup his balls squeezing them hard, then run her hand up his penis stretching each fold. She played with the tip with her fingernail...raking it ever so slowly over the top. She swirled the little drops of precum all over his penis and continued to pump him. Just as he would almost cum, Suz would slow down as she'd hear Kevin moan for her not to stop. As he became louder vocally, Suz smashed her lips against his. With another jerk of her hand, she could feel his body thrust upwards as he tense. With a final loud groan, Kevin let his release loose as he shot all over the blanket over their bodies.

With a sigh, he laid his head back, "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," Suz said kissing him on the corner of his mouth.

"I love you"

"And I love you," Suz said, "Now go get cleaned up in case the doctor comes in."

"Hey, you weren't worried about that 5 minutes ago," Kevin said laughing as he went to the bathroom.

~Outside Suz's hospital room~

"This is the only time I hate my job," Dr. Creech said looking at Suz's test results then glancing back at Dr. Evans.

"I know what you mean," Dr. Evans said heaving a loud sigh as she pushed Suz's hospital door open.

Chapter 78

~Nick/Lyndsay~

Everyone stepped away from the group hug watching as AJ and Lyndsay still held onto each other.

"Thank you, AJ," Lyndsay whispered in his ear as she moved out of his embrace, "I appreciate you telling me, and us, about your cousin. It took alot of courage."

AJ smiled.

"What did you ever tell us?" Howie asked inquisitively as Brian nodded.

AJ looked down, "Well, I didn't want to seem like a burden. After all, everyone was concerned about Kevin and Nick."

"ALEXANDER! You could NEVER be a burden to us," Nick said forcefully as everyone else gasped at AJ's admission.

"Why would you even fathom that thought that you'd be a burden to us," Joy asked as she squeezed Brian's hand.

"I don't know," AJ said shrugging.

"AJ, we are always here for you. No matter what is happening. You must promise us that if anything is ever bothering you that you come to one of us, ok?" Nick said more softly gazing into his friend's brown eyes.

AJ nodded.

"Believe me, I've learned that the hard way," Nick continued remembering the trying times between him and Kevin last year.

~The Hospital~

"Dr Evans, Dr Creech," Suz said surprised, "You are in here early." Suz looked over noting it was only 8am. The quietness of the hospital was slowly being overtaken with the sounds of patients and staff stirring.

"Hello Suzanne, Hello Kevin," Dr Evans said nodding, "How are we feeling today?"

"Sore," Suz said faintly.

Kevin walked out of the bathroom fully recovered from him and Suz's little escapade a few moments earlier. He had heard the doctors enter the room a few moments ago. Intuition told him that this wasn't just a friendly visit.

"Hello, doctors," Kevin said approaching them.

Both doctors greeted Kevin pleasantly.

"We have your test results," Dr Creech said getting right to the point.

"And?" Suz said holding her breath, "Is there another problem with the placenta?"

"No, there isn't another problem with the placenta. That is starting to heal nicely," Dr Evans said.

"Then what is it?" Suz said getting frantic. She didn't like the looks on the doctors' faces.

"With all due respect, can you just tell us what is wrong?" Kevin said. It was obvious something was going on. "Did something else cause the bleeding?" he continued.

"No," Dr Creech responded.

"Oh shit," Dr Evans muttered under her breath. She knew of Kevin's depression last year. In fact, one of her collegues had helped him recover. And now she had to give him this news?

Dr Creech continued telling Suz and Kevin what she had found in the test results.

Kevin gripped onto the chair trying to hold himself up as the doctor delivered the stunning news while Suz let out a blood curdling scream that almost shook the hospital's foundation.

Chapter 79

~Nick/Lyndsay~

After Lyndsay's story and AJ's announcement, the group settled into silence.

The phone rang finally <RING RING>

"Hello?" Brian said grabbing the phone.

"Oh, hi Keanu," Brian said.

Lyndsay looked up sharply wondering why he was calling the guys' house.

"Ok, well, I think I'm gonna call too. If you find anything out, let me know, ok?" Brian said saying goodbye.

AJ and Howie looked over at Brian who discreetly motioned to Lyndsay and Nick with his head. Neither of them knew about Suz.

"Why was Keanu calling here?" Lyndsay said speaking up.

"Uh, well, Nick, Lyndsay, there is something we have to tell you," Howie started looking over at AJ. He knew how Nick was going to flip out over hearing about Suz.

"Something happened after you left the club last night, or actually ran away and Nick followed," Brian said.

"WHAT!?" Nick and Lyndsay said in unison.

"Suz was rushed to the hospital," AJ said.

"OH MY GOD!," Nick yelled jumping up, "I have to go see her."

Lyndsay sniffled, "What happened?"

Quickly, Kat explained everything.

"I have to go see her, I have to go see her," Nick kept repeating.

"Brian," Howie whispered, "You call the hospital and ask about Suz. AJ and I will calm Nick down."

"Nick," Lyndsay said pulling on his arm forcing him to sit next to her. She wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly, "She's going to be alright. Shhh."

Brian came back into the living room, "The doctors are in with them now. The nurse at the desk said that she would have Kevin call us."

Knowing they would all eventually go to the hospital to see Suz and Kevin, the guys went to go get dressed while the girls went to shower. Nick drove Lyndsay over to her house to retreive some clothes. She had told him that she didn't want to stay alone today. She was tired of being alone anymore. Plus, she knew that Nick needed someone there after hearing about Suz.

~Hospital~

"Suz, calm down, honey, please," Kevin said cradling her. He felt like his heart had been ripped out but he couldn't even imagine what Suz felt like. Just looking at her pale face twisted his heart. How could God be so cruel to them!? With this thought, Kevin tightened his arms around her even more

Oh my god, oh my god is all Suz kept repeating as she struggled to take each breath of air.

Kevin kept attempting to soothe her knowing that she could start hyperventilating at any moment.

Finally she looked up at the doctors, "How did this happen? Did I do something wrong?"

Kevin's faced contorted into pain, though it passed quickly, at the thought that Suz thought she was to blame.

"Suz," Dr Creech said approaching the bed and laying her hand over Suz's, "You, nor Kevin, did anything wrong. This is something rare. It isn't hereditary. It just happens and we haven't really found out why."

"What can be done?" Kevin said.

Chapter 80

~Hospital~

Dr Creech looked at Dr Evans as Kevin asked his question.

"Let me explain what will happen if you managed to carry this baby to term," Dr Creech said sitting down on a stool next to Suz's bed.

In no uncertain terms, she explained the risks and dangers flatout.

"Oh my god," Kevin whispered as he saw the shocked expression on Suz's face.

Dr Evans continued explaining Suz's and Kevin's options.

"Those are our options?" Suz said in disbelief.

The doctors nodded.

"We will give you some time to digest what we said. Just call us if you have any questions, ok?" Dr Creech.

Kevin watched as the doctors exited the room. Within seconds, Suz started bawling. He watched, for a few seconds, the horrible image of his wife crumbling before his eyes. With a heave of his own chest, he hugged Suz to him letting his own anger, grief, and frightenness mingle with Suz's.

~The guys' house~

"Should we bring some stuff for Suz?" Nick asked.

"It wouldn't hurt," Joy said offering to go over and get it.

Brian had finally gotten a hold of Kevin who said that they could all come and see Suz later in the day around dinnertime. He made up the excuse that Suz was in testing until then. He didn't want them to know the truth. Suz and him had agreed to that and the doctors swore to a vow of secrecy.

"Everyone ready?" AJ said as he saw Keanu pull up and Joy crossing the street with Suz's clothes.

"Nick? Do you mind if we ride with Keanu?" Lyndsay said.

"Sure," Nick said putting an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. He know that this was part of the healing process for Lyndsay.

The 2 climbed into the car as the others climbed into theirs.

~Hospital~

"Thank you," Suz said softly to Kevin as she sat in bed having just brought back from the OR.

"For what?"

"For staying with me"

"Why wouldn't I stay with you?"

"I don't know," Suz shrugged.

"I love you, Suz. I told you that no matter what happens I love you. You have to believe me," Kevin said tilting her head to his, "We WILL make it through this. We made the right decision."

"I feel so guilty," Suz muttered.

"Don't you dare feel guilty. You have nothing to be guilty for. This is the way God intended it," Kevin said tracing his knuckles over her cheek.

Suz slowly began to close her eyes from his touch but not before Kevin saw the look of doubt in her eyes.

"Listen to me, I would have never agreed to this if I didn't feel it was the right thing to do. And I feel that God feels the same way," Kevin said clasping her hands in his.

"Agreed to do what?" Nick said walking into Suz's room.